The Priorat area is of volcanic origin, which gives its soils
unique features. The soil is acid, poor in organic matter but rich in slate. The
Paleozoic bedrock, called llicorella, consists of reddish and black
carboniferous slate with small particles of mica and quartzite that reflect and
conserve the heat. In between the layers of slate is powdered clay, which holds
water during the hot dry summers. During times of excessive rain, the steep
sloping slate provides excellent drainage.
Old vines (50 to 100 years old) can send their roots up to 20
metres deep into the rocks in search of moisture. These unique properties
contribute to the quality of the wine: the wine is very concentrated, but the
profits are low and the wine is expensive to produce.
